KUCHING, July 30: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg is scheduled to visit Nanga Jagau, one of the remotest Iban resettlements located in Ngemah, Kanowit that was set up to relocate villagers at the height of the communist insurgency in the 1970s, tomorrow (July 31).
Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr James Masing Jemut was thrilled to welcome Abang Johari to the resettlement finally after nearly five decades.
“This resettlement site was used as part of the efforts to combat and defeat the communists insurrection in the 1970s.
“Groups of Iban from the Ulu Sungai Ngemah, which at that time was infested by communists, were asked to move downstream to Nanga Jagau and Nanga Ngungun,” he shared about the sacrifices of the villagers in a statement today.
Masing, who is also Minister of Infrastructure and Ports Development, emphasised that it was the willingness of these Ibans to resettle at the resettlements at Nanga Ngungun and Nanga Jagau that had contributed to the peace that Sarawak enjoys today.
“Therefore, I am so pleased to know that the Sarawak government, after almost half a century, finally pays respect and honour the Ibans in Nanga Jagau. Thank you Abang Johari,” he added.
Nanga Jagau is one of the four resettlements set up by the now defunct Rajang Area Security Command (Rascom) in the Rajang basin during the communist insurgency in the 1970s.
Back then, villagers in Ulu Ngemah had to leave behind their homes, land, padi fields and fruit orchards and moved downriver to the Rascom resettlement areas of Nanga Jagau, Nanga Ngungun and Nanga Tada in Kanowit and Nanga Sekuau in Selangau.— DayakDaily
